The balance of trade in the forestry sector closed the first two months of this year with a rise of 34.3%, on reaching US $ 1.5 billion. In the same period, exports also recorded a positive balance, up 32.8%, US $ 1.7 billion, according to data released by Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá).
Pulp is the main product exported by the sector, with China, which increased its purchases of the product by 40.7%, totaling US $ 588 million. North America also increased imports of pulp by 50.7%, reaching US $ 202 million in the accumulated between January and February of this year. Europe, the main destination of Brazilian pulp, grew 37.3%, totaling US $ 423 million in the first two months of the year.
In relation to wood panels, Latin American countries accounted for more than half of the volume exported by Brazil, with growth of 14.3% in the first two months of 2018. In the paper segment, the increase in exports was 9.7 %, adding , totaling $ 204 million.